Indicating device for vehicles.



R.` M. NicHoLSON. INDICATING DEVICE EUR VEHICLES.

APPLXCATION FILED DEC.4\1915.

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' /TNESSES v @fm 5f a deviceo' the HUBERT M. NICHOLSON, 0F HOUSTON,TEXAS.

INDICATING DEVICE FOB VEHICLES.

werden Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed December 4, 1915. Serialv No. 65,028.

To all 'whom t 'muy coa/fern ABe it. known that l. Roiiinrr M. NroHoIf'sos, a citizen ot the l'uited States, residing at Houston, i" the countyof Harris and State ot' Texas. have invented certain new and usefulIniprovements in Indicating Devices Jfor Vehicles, ot' which thefollowino il specification.

`ln;. invention relates to new and useful improvements in an indicatingdevice for vehicles.

The object ot' the invention is to provide y character describeddesigned particularly to be attached to automobiles and other similarvehicles tor the purpose oi. indicating tm those following, the intendedmovement pt' the vehicle to which the device is attached. n

iV ith the above and other objects in View the invention has particularrelation to certain novel feature-s ot' construction, operation, andarrangement ot' partsy an example of which is given in thisspecification and illustrated inl the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a transverse sectional view of the indicating devicetogether' with a dia graminatic view of the electrical wiring connectedtherewith.

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the device in position to indicate that theintended movement ot the vehicle is to the left, and Fig. 3 shows arearview indicating that the intended movement is to the right, and

Fig. si shows a vertical sectional view of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate similar parts in each of the figures the numeral 3refers to a boX-lil e casing tormedof sheet metal or some other suitablematerial.. The rear side of this casingp has the transverse windowopening.

4. above and below which are the transverse partitions 5 and 6respectively extending from end to end ot' the casing and extendingt'roni the rear approximately onehal'f way to the front wall thereof.Underneath these partitions there arethree solenoids t. 5. and G',consisting ot spool-shaped coils having the slidable cores 7, 8 and 9respectively. which operate in the well known manner; These respectivecores have the rods it), ll and l2 upstanding therefrom, to the upperends oi" which are secured the oblong; plates 13, 14

are provided and elevated to central position, lifting the "Ycorresponding plate 13, 14e, or 15 as the vcase maybe in alineinent withthe window 4, said plate passing through alined slots in the partitions'and 6. A catch 21 is provided formed of two arias extending at rightangles, the free end of oneof which is pivotedto the supports 22, theother arm being free and normally. extending horizontally over theplates 13, le and l5 and having its under side beveled upwardly. Wheneither of said plates 13, 14 or 15`is forced upwardly as above.explained.,- it lcontacts with the beveled portion ot the horizontal armand forces said catch hack to the position shown in dottedr lines inFig. 4, permitting said plate to pass by said'free end. livoted to thevertical ai'in ot' thecatch is the rod 23,

the bearing 24 which is slidahle through .and whose free carried by thesupport 22 end has the nut 25 secured thereto. spring 26 surrounds saidrod and is interposed between said catch and bearing and When said platepasses the tree end of the catch 2l.. said catch is by said springforced back into its original position underneath the elevated plate andwhen the corresponding plug is released.y the electrical current will becut off troni the coil corresponding to the elevated plate and saidplate will be held in elevated position iii alineinent with the window 4by said catch 2l. A solenoid 27 having the core. 28 is provided. core isconnected to the catch 21 'through thev iiexible connection 29 and thecoil of the solenoid 27 is connected with the batteries 1G throughsuitable wiring, said \vir-. ing being provided with the push plug 30for connection and disconnection. 'lVhen it is desired to lower theelevated plat-o con nection is 'formed between the batteries and thesolenoid 27, which willresult in a pull being enerted against the catch21 through This the core 28 and the flexible connection 29 and saidcatch will thereby be released from under the elevated plate and saidplate'will by force of gravity drop to its original position and whenSaid spring 26 will operate to force the catch back into its normalposition. Electric lights 3l and 32 are provided, one of which issecured in a suitable socket in the front wall of the casing 3 inalinementwith the window 4 and the other one of which is arranged infront of the driver. These lights are connected with the batteries 16and are simultaneously turned on and off by the manipulation of therespective push plugs 33 and 34, all of said plugs being carried by theswitch board 20.

When the light 31 is turned on it will render visible to those in therear of the automobilethe word cut through `the plate which is elevatedin front of said light. It is obvious that by pressing either of theplugs 1T, 18 or 19 the corresponding plate will be elevated and held inposition between the window 4 and the light 3l and by pressing the plugthe light 3l will be turned on and thus the driver of the automobile mayindicate to those following whether he intends to turn to the right,lelit or to stop. lt is, of course, obvious that additional word plateslmay be provided so that all of the various movements of the automobilemay be indicatedv in advance.

What I claim is:

'1. A device of the character described including a pair of solenoids,each having a slidable core, a casing, wherein said solenoids aremounted, having a window opening, a plate supported by the core of oneof said solenoids whereby said plate may be elevated into alinement withsaid opening when said solenoid is energized` a catch arranged to engageunder said' plate when -elevated and hold it in elevated position, saidcatch being connected to the core of the other solenoid, and therebywithdrawn from under the plates when its solenoid is energiaed, a lightarranged opposite the window opening and electricall connection arrangedto connect said solenoids and light with and disconnect them from asource ot' electrical supply.

plug 30'is released the 2. A device of the character described,including a pair of solenoids, each having a slidable core, a casingwherein said solenoids are mounted having a window open- I plate butwhich engages thereunder when .v

elevated sind holds it in its elevated position, said catel'lbeingconnected to the core of the other solenoid whereby itmay be withdrawnfrom under said plate, and electrical connections arranged toeonneetsaid solenoids and light with and disconnect them from a sourceof electrical supply.-

3. A device of the character described including a casing having awindow opening, transverse partitions in the casing one above the otherbelow said opening, said partitions extending from end to end of thecasing, and from the rear thereof only, part of the way to the front, apair of solenoids in the casing each having a slidable core, a platesupported by the core of one of Said solenoids and adapted to beelevated by said core through alined slots in said partitions intoalinement with said window opening, a latch pivoted at one end and whoseother end is free and normally extends over the plates, said free endhaving its under side beveled upwardly, said catch being. yieldablymounted so as to permit the leyation of said plate and to engagethereunder when the plate is in elevated'position, said catch beingconnected to the core of the o-ther solenoid wherebyit may be withdrawnfrom under said plate, and electrical connection arranged to connectsaid solenoids with and disconnect them from a source of electricalsupply.

In testimonv whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of` two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT M. NICHOLSON.

Witnesses: F. A. LIDDELL, E. L. arrrm.

